As the 1980s came to a close, and the 90s began, what were notable elements of pop culture from January 1989 through December 1990 which you saw that weren't clearly 80s or clearly 90s - things in music, movies, TV, fashion, hairstyles and fads which don't really fit in with the rest of either 80s or 90s pop culture? What are some things unique to that odd 1989 to 1990 - note quite 80s, not quite 90s - era?

Here are some things off the top of my head:

+ Bush the Elder
+ The Bartmania-era seasons of The Simpsons
+ Saved By the Bell
+ MC Hammer
+ Vanilla Ice

As the 1980s came to a close, and the 90s began, what were notable elements of pop culture from January 1989 through December 1990 which you saw that weren't clearly 80s or clearly 90s - things in music, movies, TV, fashion, hairstyles and fads which don't really fit in with the rest of either 80s or 90s pop culture? What are some things unique to that odd 1989 to 1990 - note quite 80s, not quite 90s - era?


I'm going to say the way people dressed during the time when the 80's came to a close and the 90's started.

This thread is going to be a disaster once a certain someone shows up...

The things that come to mind for me is the first generation hip-hop that was popular at the time as well as New Jack Swing.

I would probably also throw Turtlemania and the original NES into the mix.

Most of the culture in 1990 and 91 was very '80s until the big shift happened in 1992.

and also the family friendly sitcoms came to a close until the 90's started with a new era of shows.

I mentioned some of this in another thread but here are some pop culture things that encompassed both years.

Acid wash jeans
New Kids on the Block
Roxette
Poison
Milli Vanilli
Paula Abdul
Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814
TMNT
Little Mermaid mania
The World Wide Web was developed between March 1989 and December 1990
Death throes of the Cold War
Roseanne's second season is #1 for the 1989-1990 television season

Poison

I see Poison as more of a late 80s group, considering they were already really popular in 1987 thanks to the breakthrough success of Look What the Cat Dragged In, not to mention they weren't quite as successful in the immediate aftermath of the grunge revolution as Def Leppard, FireHouse, and Guns N' Roses were.

I see Poison as more of a late 80s group, considering they were already really popular in 1987 thanks to the breakthrough success of Look What the Cat Dragged In, not to mention they weren't quite as successful in the immediate aftermath of the grunge revolution as Def Leppard, FireHouse, and Guns N' Roses were.


I mentioned them because they had two big hits in 1990: "Unskinny Bop" and "Something to Believe In" which peaked at #3 and #4 in the U.S. respectively -- Their second and third biggest hits after "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" which was #1 very late '88 and very early '89. I figured that qualified them for the "1989-1990" era.

New Kids on the Block

Nintendont Era of Video Games/Super Mario Bros 3.

Bush 41

End of Cold War/Beginning of Middle East Tensions

First season of Saved By The Bell

Peak of Turtlemania

I mentioned them because they had two big hits in 1990: "Unskinny Bop" and "Something to Believe In" which peaked at #3 and #4 in the U.S. respectively -- Their second and third biggest hits after "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" which was #1 very late '88 and very early '89. I figured that qualified them for the "1989-1990" era.


I just think stylistically, they lean far more on the 80s side than the 90s side, in addition to being more significant during the late 80s than majority of the early 90s, which I don't think fully formed until late 1991, anyway.  Something like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fits the in-between definition a lot better because they were not only huge during the late 80s, but also all of the early 90s, as well.  They were already a harbinger of 90s edginess back when they first became popular, but they weren't quite as politically incorrect as Ren & Stimpy or The Simpsons and retained a bit of that Saturday morning merchandise-driven cartoon style that was typical in the 80s.

As the 1980s came to a close, and the 90s began, what were notable elements of pop culture from January 1989 through December 1990 which you saw that weren't clearly 80s or clearly 90s - things in music, movies, TV, fashion, hairstyles and fads which don't really fit in with the rest of either 80s or 90s pop culture? What are some things unique to that odd 1989 to 1990 - note quite 80s, not quite 90s - era?


Not quite the '80s, not quite the '90s era?

1989 was the year of the 1980s.
1990 was the very first beginning of the 1990s.

Not quite the '80s, not quite the '90s era?

1989 was the year of the 1980s.
1990 was the very first beginning of the 1990s.


I called it. I totally called it.

Here are some things off the top of my head:

+ Bush the Elder
+ The Bartmania-era seasons of The Simpsons
+ Saved By the Bell
+ MC Hammer
+ Vanilla Ice


I think you mean to say:

Bush the Elder when his approval rating was still high

The first season episodes of The Simpsons. They were more like shorts from The Tracy Ullman Show and less like the episodes from the seasons that followed them.

The first season of Saved By the Bell

Stanley Kirk Burrell when he last went by the rap moniker, MC Hammer

Early Vanilla Ice

Not quite the '80s, not quite the '90s era?

1989 was the year of the 1980s.
1990 was the very first beginning of the 1990s.


I thought 1990 was the "absolute immaculate culmination" of everything that defined what the 80's were?

The things that come to mind for me is the first generation hip-hop that was popular at the time as well as New Jack Swing.

I would probably also throw Turtlemania and the original NES into the mix.

Most of the culture in 1990 and 91 was very '80s until the big shift happened in 1992.


Big shift that happened in 1992?

1990, 1991, and 1992 were all leaning towards 1993. '92 had more in common with 1993 over all of the other years of the early '90s, but we were not in the core '90s by the end of that year. 

I thought 1990 was the "absolute immaculate culmination" of everything that defined what the 80's were?


Yes, that is correct, but most of the things introduced before 1978 were gone before 1990.

New Kids on the Block

Nintendont Era of Video Games/Super Mario Bros 3.

Bush 41

End of Cold War/Beginning of Middle East Tensions

First season of Saved By The Bell

Peak of Turtlemania


Peak of Turtlemania?

Turtlemania happened in the spring of 1990.

Yes, that is correct, but most of the things introduced before 1978 were gone before 1990.


But what does pre-1978 have to do with 1990 if the 80's started in 1978?

But what does pre-1978 have to do with 1990 if the 80's started in 1978?


Some of the new TV shows, fashions, and fads of 1969 to 1977 stayed around until the very end of 1989.

'89 was the last year of CWA Wrestling, plastic dangling hoop earrings, and American Bandstand.

Some of the new TV shows, fashions, and fads of 1969 to 1977 stayed around until the very end of 1989.

'89 was the last year of CWA Wrestling, plastic dangling hoop earrings, and American Bandstand.


But then how was everything from the 80's meant for 1990 if things disappeared before 1990?

But then how was everything from the 80's meant for 1990 if things disappeared before 1990?


The new shows, styles, movie characters, toys, and musicians of the 1980s were meant for 1990.

Everything was so boxy during this era.  :)

The new shows, styles, movie characters, toys, and musicians of the 1980s were meant for 1990.


The musicians? I don't think Trash Metal and Hardcore Punk were meant for 1990.

But how? If the 90's began in 1990 and the 80's ended in 1989 then how could the 80's have had their "final immaculate culmination" in 1990? You said before that everything that happened in the 80's was there in 1990 but all that stuff you mention was done by 1989.

Big shift that happened in 1992?

1990, 1991, and 1992 were all leaning towards 1993. '92 had more in common with 1993 over all of the other years of the early '90s, but we were not in the core '90s by the end of that year.


I thought 1990 was specifically heading for 1999?  On one side, you talk about how all pop culture hit an unfortunate turning point in 1993, but then you also emphasize how things popular in 1990 such as Mariah Carey and the Game Boy all reached climactic points in 1999.  I mean, you could just as well bring up how 1993 produced Music Box and Link's Awakening, but then how are you supposed to account for things like Daydream or Donkey Kong Land in 1995?  This is exactly why your future year-centric definitions don't make consistent sense - you can't properly distinguish between culture intended for the next decade sub-era or the next decade altogether.


Some of the new TV shows, fashions, and fads of 1969 to 1977 stayed around until the very end of 1989.

I had always wondered where you would mark the beginning of the 70s.  Though once again, like 1978, 1969 is a rather early starting point for the full beginning of the 70s.  Woodstock happened that year, The Beatles released Abbey Road, and Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison were all still alive.  Sure, 1969 was the first year during which significant 70s culture began to really emerge, but it was still a 60s atmosphere through and through.  Hippies and rounded hairdos were still at the heart of the youth culture at the time, and disco wouldn't even start to appear until 1973.


I think you mean to say:

Bush the Elder when his approval rating was still high

The first season episodes of The Simpsons. They were more like shorts from The Tracy Ullman Show and less like the episodes from the seasons that followed them.

The first season of Saved By the Bell

Stanley Kirk Burrell when he last went by the rap moniker, MC Hammer

Early Vanilla Ice


I thought you said there was no in-between transitional period from 1989 and 1990?  In which case, why are you even trying to reframe my list items?

I thought 1990 was the "absolute immaculate culmination" of everything that defined what the 80's were?


No, 1989 was the absolute beginning of the 90's, lol. In fact, 1989 was also the beginning of the 21st century, because of the first Simpsons episode, the first Batman movie, the Internet, and the debut of a lot of bands and artists.

No, 1989 was the absolute beginning of the 90's, lol. In fact, 1989 was also the beginning of the 21st century, because of the first Simpsons episode, the first Batman movie, the Internet, and the debut of a lot of bands and artists.


That's not my opinion, that's his opinion. I was asking him a question.

Everything was so boxy during this era.  :)


Everything was also mass-produced in that time.

The musicians? I don't think Trash Metal and Hardcore Punk were meant for 1990.

Are you aware of The Clash of the Titans tour?

But how? If the 90's began in 1990 and the 80's ended in 1989 then how could the 80's have had their "final immaculate culmination" in 1990? You said before that everything that happened in the 80's was there in 1990 but all that stuff you mention was done by 1989.



That stuff that most Americans deem "70s culture" was done by 1989.

Are you aware of The Clash of the Titans tour?


So, because Slayer, Megadeth, Testament and Suicidal Tendencies went on a tour in 1990 that means Thrash was meant for 1990!? Slayer was still good but hell, Suicidal and Testament released some of their worse albums in 1990. 1990 is considered a really subpar year for Thrash aside from Megadeth's Rust in Peace. 1986 was the big year for Thrash. Master of Puppets, Reign in Blood, Peace Sells, Pleasure to Kill, Morbid Visions, Darkness Descends. All some of the biggest and most influential Thrash albums of all time. Dude, Master of Puppets and Reign in Blood! 1990 didn't have those, 1986 did! Anyone into Metal will tell you that 1986 was the year for Thrash Metal.

Big shift that happened in 1992?


1992 was the first year that culture was more 90s than it was 80s, though there were still a lot of 80s holdovers that year.  1993, in my opinion, is the first fully 90s year.

Yes, that is correct, but most of the things introduced before 1978 were gone before 1990.


Like The Atari console.

Some of the new TV shows, fashions, and fads of 1969 to 1977 stayed around until the very end of 1989.

'89 was the last year of CWA Wrestling, plastic dangling hoop earrings, and American Bandstand.


American Bandstand had a different format.

So, because Slayer, Megadeth, Testament and Suicidal Tendencies went on a tour in 1990 that means Thrash was meant for 1990!? Slayer was still good but hell, Suicidal and Testament released some of their worse albums in 1990. 1990 is considered a really subpar year for Thrash aside from Megadeth's Rust in Peace. 1986 was the big year for Thrash. Master of Puppets, Reign in Blood, Peace Sells, Pleasure to Kill, Morbid Visions, Darkness Descends. All some of the biggest and most influential Thrash albums of all time. Dude, Master of Puppets and Reign in Blood! 1990 didn't have those, 1986 did! Anyone into Metal will tell you that 1986 was the year for Thrash Metal.


Those Suicidal and Testament albums were released after June of 1990. As you know, the first few months of 1990 were a much different story from the months July, August, September, October, November, and December of '90.

Those Suicidal and Testament albums were released after June of 1990. As you know, the first few months of 1990 were a much different story from the months July, August, September, October, November, and December of '90.


Suicidal peaked in 1983 with their debut which isn't even Metal (it is one of my favorite Hardcore Punk albums ever, though) and Testament peaked in 1987 with The Legacy. 1990 had some of the worst Thrash releases ever especially compared to what was happening from 1984-1987. 1988-1994 aren't the best years for thrash unless you like Megadeth because Megadeth were really f*ckin' good during those years. 1990: Souls of Black sucked. Light, Camera, Revolution sucked. Speak Your Peace sucked. Impact in Imminent was sub-par. Meaning of Life was decent but not at all as good as Zombie Attack. Rust in Peace rules. Seasons in the Abyss is pretty good etc, etc.

Huh? How?

Those Suicidal and Testament albums were released after June of 1990. As you know, the first few months of 1990 were a much different story from the months July, August, September, October, November, and December of '90.


Now here you are contradicting yourself even with your favorite year in history.  I'm pretty positive you've stated several times before that the 90s took off in full force as soon as the clock struck midnight on January 1, 1990.  While we're on this subject, what about the first season of The Simpsons, the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, and Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em?  I don't personally consider them the turning points that officially signaled the death of the 80s and birth of the 90s, but since you refer to those things a lot in your 1990 arguments, didn't they all come out during the first half of 1990?

Suicidal peaked in 1983 with their debut which isn't even Metal (it is one of my favorite Hardcore Punk albums ever, though) and Testament peaked in 1987 with The Legacy. 1990 had some of the worst Thrash releases ever especially compared to what was happening from 1984-1987. 1988-1994 aren't the best years for thrash unless you like Megadeth because Megadeth were really f*ckin' good during those years. 1990: Souls of Black sucked. Light, Camera, Revolution sucked. Speak Your Peace sucked. Impact in Imminent was sub-par. Meaning of Life was decent but not at all as good as Zombie Attack. Rust in Peace rules. Seasons in the Abyss is pretty good etc, etc.

Huh? How?


I never said 1990 was the best year for thrash. Thrash groups founded in the  '80s were still active in 1990.

Everything was also mass-produced in that time.


Cooooooooooooooool. And I like it massed-produced.  8)

I never said 1990 was the best year for thrash. Thrash groups founded in the  '80s were still active in 1990.


How does that mean all of those thrash classics from the mid 80s were intended for 1990?  You have no way of hiding your bias there.

I never said 1990 was the best year for thrash. Thrash groups founded in the  '80s were still active in 1990.


Almost ALL of them peaked in 1986, though! Only Megadeth peaked in 1990. Metallica and Slayer, the two biggest Thrash bands ever peaked in 1986, dude. Not to mention other very influential Thrash bands that I have also mentioned peaked in 1986 and if not 1986, usually 1985 (in Exodus' case), 1987 (in Testament's, Sacred Reich and Cryptic Slaughter's case) or even 1988 (in D.R.I.'s case). But most Thrash bands peaked in 1986! The most influential Thrash albums weren't made for 1990, they were made for the year they came out. 1986!

Now here you are contradicting yourself even with your favorite year in history.  I'm pretty positive you've stated several times before that the 90s took off in full force as soon as the clock struck midnight on January 1, 1990.

I disagree with you on that, I was in no way contradicting myself when I said that. The '90s did begin on January 1st of 1990. The first six months of 1990 were very different from the last six months of the year. In May of '90, I remember wearing white high top sneakers, a white shirt with pastel blue print on it, and acid wash jeans. Shows like The Smurfs and Mr. Belvedere were still on the air. The early '90s were only unwinding at that point. Before 1990 came to a close, even more shows, styles, movies, artists and toys of the 2000s were present.

While we're on this subject, what about the first season of The Simpsons, the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, and Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em?  I don't personally consider them the turning points that officially signaled the death of the 80s and birth of the 90s, but since you refer to those things a lot in your 1990 arguments, didn't they all come out during the first half of 1990?


The Simpsons Christmas Special was not a turning point, but the episode that followed certainly was. Bart the Genius was the first ever episode that used the intro thus making it more like an episode of the show from 1999 and less like The Christmas Special.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the Movie was the start to a movie series that saw its last installment released in 2007.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91WTloicDZL._SL1500_.jpg


Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em was the biggest-selling rap album of that time. It was the one of the first ever rap albums to sold to the pop market. Hammer was not in the public eye until that album hit.

Almost ALL of them peaked in 1986, though! Only Megadeth peaked in 1990. Metallica and Slayer, the two biggest Thrash bands ever peaked in 1986, dude. Not to mention other very influential Thrash bands that I have also mentioned peaked in 1986 and if not 1986, usually 1985 (in Exodus' case), 1987 (in Testament's, Sacred Reich and Cryptic Slaughter's case) or even 1988 (in D.R.I.'s case). But most Thrash bands peaked in 1986! The most influential Thrash albums weren't made for 1990, they were made for the year they came out. 1986!


So people were not still listening to those albums in the first half of 1990? Is that what you're telling here?

I disagree with you on that, I was in no way contradicting myself when I said that. The '90s did begin on January 1st of 1990. The first six months of 1990 were very different from the last six months of the year. In May of '90, I remember wearing white high top sneakers, a white shirt with pastel blue print on it, and acid wash jeans. Shows like The Smurfs and Mr. Belvedere were still on the air. The early '90s were only unwinding at that point. Before 1990 came to a close, even more shows, styles, movies, artists and toys of the 2000s were present.


Ah, ok. I get it! The 2000's began in 1990!

So people were not still listening to those albums in the first half of 1990? Is that what you're telling here?


By 1990, the Trash scene wasn't as strong in 1990 as it was in 1986 so yes, not as many people were listening to those albums as they were in 1986.

Ah, ok. I get it! The 2000's began in 1990!


2000s culture showed up in the '90s.

2000s culture showed up in the '90s.


Like what? I can think of a few things but I want to hear your opinion.

Like what? I can think of a few things but I want to hear your opinion.


Wide leg pants, the second Adidas logo, Pokèmon, Tyler Perry plays, Larami Super Soakers, and the TV show Friends to name a few.

Wide leg pants, the second Adidas logo, Pokèmon, Tyler Perry plays, Larami Super Soakers, and the TV show Friends to name a few.


I see your point, though, would you say that Friend's is really 2000's? It was only around in the 2000's from 2000-2004. Only two of those years I count as true 2000's culture.
Stuff like Hip Hop became very 2000's in 1997 with the new Slick-Urban sound and Lil Jon's "Get Crunk! Who U Wit" debut. And then you had the iMac (1998), the DVD (1996), Broadband (pretty much widespread by 1996/1997) and the mp3 player (1998) which are often viewed more as true 2000's things than 90's things.

I disagree with you on that, I was in no way contradicting myself when I said that. The '90s did begin on January 1st of 1990. The first six months of 1990 were very different from the last six months of the year. In May of '90, I remember wearing white high top sneakers, a white shirt with pastel blue print on it, and acid wash jeans. Shows like The Smurfs and Mr. Belvedere were still on the air. The early '90s were only unwinding at that point. Before 1990 came to a close, even more shows, styles, movies, artists and toys of the 2000s were present.

If the culture of the first half of 1990 was so different from the latter half, then why is it more appropriate to mark January 1st (when so-called culture for the 90s like The Smurfs and acid wash jeans were still trendy) as the beginning of the 90s than the second half, when "2000s" culture was far more prevalent?

The Simpsons Christmas Special was not a turning point, but the episode that followed certainly was. Bart the Genius was the first ever episode that used the intro thus making it more like an episode of the show from 1999 and less like The Christmas Special.

I was referring to Bart the Genius, since you consider the show's intro to be super-important.  Oh by the way, 1999 was when the Simpsons completely bottomed out in quality and half the episodes became about Homer getting a new job and hijinks ensue, the writing, jokes, and characters nowhere near as classic as they were from 1990-1997.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the Movie was the start to a movie series that saw its last installment released in 2007.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91WTloicDZL._SL1500_.jpg

What?  The only reason to connect the 2007 CGI movie to the original trilogy of Turtles movies is that the story is technically in the same universe.  Otherwise, the direction, look, and even target demographic for the 2007 movie was nothing like the original trilogy.  It feels more targeted towards fans of the more realistic, less humorous 2003 cartoon series (which was still in the midst of its run at the time) than those who grew up with the original 1987 cartoon and Turtlemania in the early 90s.  The mere fact that the movie is animated and doesn't use live-action puppets immediately sets it apart from its early 90s predecessors.  You may as well include the Michael Bay reboot of Ninja Turtles, considering it was made far closer in time to TMNT '07 than Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III was.

Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em was the biggest-selling rap album of that time. It was the one of the first ever rap albums to sold to the pop market. Hammer was not in the public eye until that album hit.

Hip hop had already made huge commercial inroads thanks to LL Cool J, Run-DMC, and especially the Beastie Boys.  MC Hammer wasn't even that different from late 80s rap acts like Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock, Young MC, and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.  Regardless, I thought you said the second half of 1990 was a markedly different time from the first half, in which case MC Hammer would have been immediately irrelevant after a couple of months.

Back to the topic:

*Shining Time Station with Ringo Starr as Mr. Conductor and the original intro with the cast
*The Famous Teddy Z
*Tone Loc
*Altered Beast and Golden Axe for Sega Genesis (pre-Sonic)
*Think Fast
*Make The Grade
*Hey Dude
*Young MC
*Dick Tracy movie
*Roxette
*Chip 'n Dale's Rescue Rangers
*TaleSpin
*The Lambada
*The Electric Slide
*Slap bracelets
*Ghost
*Look Who's Talking
*Generations soap opera

As I've said in numerous other threads, his method of using movie sequels as a litmus test for decade culture doesn't make sense.  Sequels are almost always a quick cash grab intended to capitalize on the success of or nostalgia for the original movie.

As I've said in numerous other threads, his method of using movie sequels as a litmus test for decade culture doesn't make sense.  Sequels are almost always a quick cash grab intended to capitalize on the success of or nostalgia for the original movie.


It's weird and arbitrary. He says the 2000's ended in 2011 (apparently they also started in 1990. R.I.P. 2000's - 1990-2011) and American Pie had a DVD boxset released that year in anticipation of the next film, right? He uses that as an example of why the 2000's lasted until 2011 but American Reunion doesn't count because it was released in 2012 because he doesn't consider 2012 as a year of the 2000's.

It's weird and arbitrary. He says the 2000's ended in 2011 (apparently they also started in 1990. R.I.P. 2000's - 1990-2011) and American Pie had a DVD boxset released that year in anticipation of the next film, right? He uses that as an example of why the 2000's lasted until 2011 but American Reunion doesn't count because it was released in 2012 because he doesn't consider 2012 as a year of the 2000's.


Actually we are still in the '90s.  Men in Black 3 came out in 2012 and Jurassic World came out this year.

Actually we are still in the '90s.  Men in Black 3 came out in 2012 and Jurassic World came out this year.


Are you sure? As I recall, Jurassic World and Men in Black 3 are the sequels to Jurassic Park 3 and Men in Black 2 which of course are the first sequels to movies from the 90's and all sequels to 90's movies happened after 1999 when the 2000's began and we took the Transformers G1 toyline's off the shelfs of Toys R Us stores everywhere and we stopped wearing our Bill Cosby sweaters so it's not on the same caliber as Men in Black 2 or Jurassic Park 3. But in 2011, a Men in Black DVD boxset of the first two movies was released signaling an end to the 00's. Since it was released in 2011, it still is a good representation of what the 2000's was unlike Men in Black 3 which was released in 2012.

1992 was the first year that culture was more 90s than it was 80s, though there were still a lot of 80s holdovers that year.  1993, in my opinion, is the first fully 90s year.


There goes that word "holdover" again.

Question for you: Would you call a baby born in 1984 a child of the 1980s?

That Millennial was not there from day one of the 1980s, so how could one refer to them as a child of the 1980s?

Another question: Do you see where I'm coming from with this?

True '80s culture like The Benny Hill Show disappeared before 1990 rolled around.

1990 was the first fully '90s year. '93 was just the earliest year of the '90s to have more in common with the first half of 1999. Clinton was in office, The Nanny was on the air, and the theatrical poster to The Nightmare Before Christmas (shares many similarities with the original theatrical release poster to Sleepy Hollow) was up at many theaters in that year. In other words, '93 had even more incoming 2000s culture in it than 1990 did.

There goes that word "holdover" again.

Question for you: Would you call a baby born in 1984 a child of the 1980s?

That Millennial was not there from day one of the 1980s, so how could one refer to them as a child of the 1980s?

Another question: Do you see where I'm coming from with this?

True '80s culture like The Benny Hill Show disappeared before 1990 rolled around.

1990 was the first fully '90s year. '93 was just the earliest year of the '90s to have more in common with the first half of 1999. Clinton was in office, The Nanny was on the air, and the theatrical poster to The Nightmare Before Christmas (shares many similarities with the original theatrical release poster to Sleepy Hollow) was up at many theaters in that year. In other words, '93 had even more incoming 2000s culture in it than 1990 did.


I thought the 80's had no culture and everything that came from the 80's was meant for the year 1990? And how could 1990 be the first full 90's year if "the first few months were different than June-December of 1990"?

1990 was the first fully '90s year. '93 was just the earliest year of the '90s to have more in common with the first half of 1999. Clinton was in office, The Nanny was on the air, and the theatrical poster to The Nightmare Before Christmas (shares many similarities with the original theatrical release poster to Sleepy Hollow) was up at many theaters in that year. In other words, '93 had even more incoming 2000s culture in it than 1990 did.


Maybe its because 1993-1999 was '90s culture.  The decade was defined by the events and trends that occurred during those years.  Clinton, the Nightmare Before Christmas, etc were NOT 2000s culture.  The first taste of incoming early '00s culture didn't appear until late '97 and it took until late '99 before that culture was dominant.  I consider 1998's culture - Titanic, Monica Lewinsky, disaster movies, R&B, JNCOs, etc to be '90s and not '00s.

1990 was '90s in name only.  Its culture was almost entirely '80s. 

Maybe its because 1993-1999 was '90s culture.  The decade was defined by the events and trends that occurred during those years.  Clinton, the Nightmare Before Christmas, etc were NOT 2000s culture.  The first taste of incoming early '00s culture didn't appear until late '97 and it took until late '99 before that culture was dominant.  I consider 1998's culture - Titanic, Monica Lewinsky, disaster movies, R&B, JNCOs, etc to be '90s and not '00s.

Was Clinton not still President in 1999, 2000, and the very beginning of 2001? :o

Jack Skellington shirts were everywhere in the 2000s.

All of the most significant Titanic ripoffs came out in the early 2000s.  Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor, The Legend of the Titanic, and Titanic: The Legend Goes On all came out in 1999 or later.

Twister may have come out in 1996, but by 2011, there were DVD's of 2012, I Am Legend, The Day After Tomorrow, Cloverfield, and Disaster Movie.  Disaster movies were intended for the 2000s.  ;)

If it wasn't for the albums Boyz II Men and Blackstreet released in the 90s, there wouldn't be a Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya, Full Circle, or Level II.

There goes that word "holdover" again.

Question for you: Would you call a baby born in 1984 a child of the 1980s?

That Millennial was not there from day one of the 1980s, so how could one refer to them as a child of the 1980s?

Birth year isn't nearly the same thing as release date for some form of media.  Sometimes, an album tv show, video game, etc. will not grow popular until a few months of word of mouth, but in the vast bulk of cases, their popularity peaks shortly after they come out.  Humans take five entire years before they even truly enter their childhoods.

Another question: Do you see where I'm coming from with this?

I see that you're coming from a completely artificial, biased, dogmatic, unorthodox, and arrogant perspective, that all new culture is somehow a decade ahead of its time, and if you don't agree, then you're completely wrong.

True '80s culture like The Benny Hill Show disappeared before 1990 rolled around.

Benny Hill.  Benny Hill is "true 80s culture."  A show that premiered in freaking 1955 and whose first full decade on the air (since I thought that's all that matters to you) was in the 1960s is 80s.  You know what, I take it back, I have no idea where on earth you're coming from with your dizzying logic.

1990 was the first fully '90s year. '93 was just the earliest year of the '90s to have more in common with the first half of 1999. Clinton was in office, The Nanny was on the air, and the theatrical poster to The Nightmare Before Christmas (shares many similarities with the original theatrical release poster to Sleepy Hollow) was up at many theaters in that year. In other words, '93 had even more incoming 2000s culture in it than 1990 did.


Don't forget that Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live were still on the air and new James Bond movies were still being made!  Those things scream pure 90s from head to toe!

Was Clinton not still President in 1999, 2000, and the very beginning of 2001? :o

Yes I believe so.  ???

Yes I believe so.  ???


bchris02 made it seem like Clinton was not a significant part of the 2000s, even though he was President when Pokémania arrived. :o

Birth year isn't nearly the same thing as release date for some form of media.  Sometimes, an album tv show, video game, etc. will not grow popular until a few months of word of mouth, but in the vast bulk of cases, their popularity peaks shortly after they come out.  Humans take five entire years before they even truly enter their childhoods.

I see that you're coming from a completely artificial, biased, dogmatic, unorthodox, and arrogant perspective, that all new culture is somehow a decade ahead of its time, and if you don't agree, then you're completely wrong.

Benny Hill.  Benny Hill is "true 80s culture."  A show that premiered in freaking 1955 and whose first full decade on the air (since I thought that's all that matters to you) was in the 1960s is 80s.  You know what, I take it back, I have no idea where on earth you're coming from with your dizzying logic.

Don't forget that Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live were still on the air and new James Bond movies were still being made!  Those things scream pure 90s from head to toe!


Are you bchris02? My questions were directed towards bchris02, not you.  ;)

Jack Skellington shirts were everywhere in the 2000s.



No, you're correct, Infinity. They were gone completely after 1996.

https://web.archive.org/web/20040131013339/http://www.hottopic.com/

He has a point. Once Emo became the bastardization it did in 2004, Jack Skellington was something a lot of girls would wear on their T-Shirts. "omg jus lik jack n sally"

Or you know... Dude's who look like really ugly chicks...

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq140/XxXDiamond_RosesXxX/Emo%20boys/54754378.jpg

http://www.soemo.co.uk/users/Nathantheninja/thumb_emo_guys_7513a01bb876977cca3568.JPG


I don't remember seeing too much of these shirts during the 1998-2002 Y2K era, though.

Birth year isn't nearly the same thing as release date for some form of media.  Sometimes, an album tv show, video game, etc. will not grow popular until a few months of word of mouth, but in the vast bulk of cases, their popularity peaks shortly after they come out.  Humans take five entire years before they even truly enter their childhoods.

I see that you're coming from a completely artificial, biased, dogmatic, unorthodox, and arrogant perspective, that all new culture is somehow a decade ahead of its time, and if you don't agree, then you're completely wrong.

Benny Hill.  Benny Hill is "true 80s culture."  A show that premiered in freaking 1955 and whose first full decade on the air (since I thought that's all that matters to you) was in the 1960s is 80s.  You know what, I take it back, I have no idea where on earth you're coming from with your dizzying logic.

Don't forget that Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live were still on the air and new James Bond movies were still being made!  Those things scream pure 90s from head to toe!


The Thames years of The Benny Hill Show ran from 1969 to 1989.

Are you bchris02? My questions were directed towards bchris02, not you.  ;)


You're pretty much addressing everyone when you post on a public forum, hammering down the same points you already preached towards everyone else.


No, you're correct, Infinity. They were gone completely after 1996.

https://web.archive.org/web/20040131013339/http://www.hottopic.com/


The movie was still released way back in 1993 and never even spawned any sequels.  I only brought up Jack Skellington out of sarcasm because of your adamancy about decades being defined strictly by things introduced during the previous decade.


The Thames years of The Benny Hill Show ran from 1969 to 1989.


Even if we're strictly focusing on the Thames era, wouldn't a 1969 starting point technically make it more significant during the 70s and not the 80s?  Whatever the case, it was still relevant since 1955, so I don't see how it strictly belongs to the 80s.

bchris02 made it seem like Clinton was not a significant part of the 2000s, even though he was President when Pokémania arrived. :o

I have a question, Is Clinton the president you associate pokemania with just like Bush Sr. is associated with TMNT, George W. with Yu gi oh, and Ronald Regean with the original Transformers?

I have a question, Is Clinton the president you associate pokemania with just like Bush Sr. is associated with TMNT, George W. with Yu gi oh, and Ronald Regean with the original Transformers?


Yes, but I don't associate Pokemania with the early 2000s so much as the second half of the millennial era.

I have a question, Is Clinton the president you associate pokemania with just like Bush Sr. is associated with TMNT, George W. with Yu gi oh, and Ronald Regean with the original Transformers?


What would Obama be associated with?

Yes, but I don't associate Pokemania with the early 2000s so much as the second half of the millennial era.


I agree.  Pokemania is associated with the Y2K era with is associated with Clinton.  However, when I think of the early 2000s, I think more of 2001-2003.  Pokemania was 1999-2000.

Clinton was to the '90s what Reagan was to the '80s and Bush was to the '00s.  I don't associate Clinton much with the '00s at all despite the fact he was President at the very beginning of the decade.  Does anybody associate Nixon with the '60s?  He was President in 1969.  The '60s Presidents were Kennedy and Johnson.

What would Obama be associated with?

Kid culture wise, Adventure Time
teen culture wise, Twilight and Hunger Games
action cartoon/anime wise, The Legend of Korra


Those were the only ones I could think of!! :-[  I can't think of ANY kid action anime that has had big impact this decade. It's pathetic! ;D

Yes, but I don't associate Pokemania with the early 2000s so much as the second half of the millennial era.

Yeah Pokemon's popularity was strictly a Y2K thing, just like Yu gi oh's popularity was strictly an early 00s thing. You can call me crazy for saying this, but Dragon Ball Z could be associated with both Clinton and Bush II, but that's just me.

Yeah Pokemon's popularity was strictly a Y2K thing, just like Yu gi oh's popularity was strictly an early 00s thing. You can call me crazy for saying this, but Dragon Ball Z could be associated with both Clinton and Bush II, but that's just me.


Actually, I think you're right.  The show first arrived on Pacific shores during the last third of 1996, but I distinctly remember the 2001/2002 school year (during the Majin Buu Saga) being the period when everybody seemed to be obsessed with the show.  In fact, Dragon Ball Z is the very first thing that comes to my mind when I think of third grade.  I think it was around 2002 that Burger King had a joint toy promotion between Dragon Ball Z for boys and The Powerpuff Girls for girls.

Actually, I think you're right.  The show first arrived on Pacific shores during the last third of 1996, but I distinctly remember the 2001/2002 school year (during the Majin Buu Saga) being the period when everybody seemed to be obsessed with the show.  In fact, Dragon Ball Z is the very first thing that comes to my mind when I think of third grade.  I think it was around 2002 that Burger King had a joint toy promotion between Dragon Ball Z for boys and The Powerpuff Girls for girls.

Yes, The World Tournament/the first part of the Majin Buu Saga(2001/2002),was when the series was probably at the height of it's popularity IN AMERICA! Even though I prefer Freeza and Cell Sagas.


I remember when DBZ was the anime ALL the boys liked and Sailor Moon was the anime ALL the girls liked! ;D

Yes, The World Tournament/the first part of the Majin Buu Saga(2001/2002),was when the series was probably at the height of it's popularity IN AMERICA! Even though I prefer Freeza and Cell Sagas.


I remember when DBZ was the anime ALL the boys liked and Sailor Moon was the anime ALL the girls liked! ;D


Yeah this is true! Many great Kindergarten & 1st grade memories of rushing home to catch DBZ  ;D

BTW were you guys into Dragonball at the time it was airing?

I sure was, although it seems to be forgotten by a lot of people...

Yeah this is true! Many great Kindergarten & 1st grade memories of rushing home to catch DBZ  ;D

BTW were you guys into Dragonball at the time it was airing?

I sure was, although it seems to be forgotten by a lot of people...

To quote Sean Connery, oops I mean Bane ;D ; of course! As an advent anime watcher than and now, kindergarten-2nd grade I rushed home to watch DB and DBZ, and all the other animes that came on as well. :)

BTW were you guys into Dragonball at the time it was airing?

I actually had a bit of a personal prejudice against it, particularly because I loved to draw imaginary characters with special powers, and one of my friends at school kept telling me that Majin Buu would completely squash my creatures in a fight, no matter what I came up with. ;D In retrospect, DBZ seems like a fascinating show, but at the time I was more interested in Nintendo and computer games like Roller Coaster Tycoon and The Sims.

I remember Pokémon being huge during 1999 and 2000. I'm sure I'm missing years. Perhaps 1998, it was already popular.

He has a point. Once Emo became the bastardization it did in 2004, Jack Skellington was something a lot of girls would wear on their T-Shirts. "omg jus lik jack n sally"

Or you know... Dude's who look like really ugly chicks...

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq140/XxXDiamond_RosesXxX/Emo%20boys/54754378.jpg

http://www.soemo.co.uk/users/Nathantheninja/thumb_emo_guys_7513a01bb876977cca3568.JPG


I don't remember seeing too much of these shirts during the 1998-2002 Y2K era, though.


Why was "emo" a weird style?

I remember Pokémon being huge during 1999 and 2000. I'm sure I'm missing years. Perhaps 1998, it was already popular.


Fall of 1998 is when it started to become popular.

Some things that haven't been mentioned:

fanny packs (before they became uncool)
spandex worn as normal clothing
reebok pumps
high top fades
mullets

Even if we're strictly focusing on the Thames era, wouldn't a 1969 starting point technically make it more significant during the 70s and not the 80s?  Whatever the case, it was still relevant since 1955, so I don't see how it strictly belongs to the 80s.


The Benny Hill Show ran on the Thames Television network from November 19th of 1969 to May 1st of 1989. So, the Thames era of the show was launched IN 1969 (the year I consider to be the start of 1970s). Most people think of it as a '70s and '80s television fixture rather than a show that more significant to one time over the other.

Some things that haven't been mentioned:

fanny packs (before they became uncool)
spandex worn as normal clothing
reebok pumps
high top fades
mullets


"Clearly '90s" things on your list:

Fanny Packs
Spandex worn as normal clothing
Mullets

Hair fads for men that were around from 1989-1991 on that list:

High-top fades


Sneakers worn from 1990-1994:

Reebok Pumps

As the 1980s came to a close, and the 90s began, what were notable elements of pop culture from January 1989 through December 1990 which you saw that weren't clearly 80s or clearly 90s - things in music, movies, TV, fashion, hairstyles and fads which don't really fit in with the rest of either 80s or 90s pop culture? What are some things unique to that odd 1989 to 1990 - note quite 80s, not quite 90s - era?


+ The Pop Swatch craze
+ Lambada dance craze
+ Hot Loops
+ Electric Youth perfume
+ Popularity of the group Rhyme Syndicate
+ Vision Street Wear merchandise without the 'Street Wear' part seen on it
+ Tyco Pocket Power toys
+ Making puff paint shirts
+ Rickie Tickie Stickies flower re-issues
+ Popping your suspenders like Bobby Brown in the Every Little Step video
+ Saying someone in your family knew a member of the New Kids on the Block
+ Neon curly shoelaces
+ Men wearing the original Don't Worry Be Happy shirts that were sold at flea markets
+ The popularity of Body Glove clothing
+ "Cum Gum" (Freshen-Up gum)
+ Imitating N.W.A.
+ The hit single I Wanna Be Rich by Calloway (HW Bush era group)
+ All- white K Swiss sneakers

Why was "emo" a weird style?


It's just as bad as the Glam Metal sh*t. I remember seeing the proto style of this look back in 1996/1997. It was weird and I never thought it'd last long but then 2004 came along and Emo became this weird Goth/Glam hybrid.

Does anybody associate Nixon with the '60s?  He was President in 1969.  The '60s Presidents were Kennedy and Johnson.

Ironically, Nixon and Johnson fit together better than Kennedy and Johnson culturally. Nixon may have been the president in the early 70s, but the early 70s are still associated with the 60s by MANY people.

Ironically, Nixon and Johnson fit together better than Kennedy and Johnson culturally. Nixon may have been the president in the early 70s, but the early 70s are still associated with the 60s by MANY people.


You can't underestimate, however, the connections between the Kennedy administration and LBJ administration.  It was under Kennedy's watch that the 20th Century Civil Rights Movement reached its climax, which set the stage for all of the groundbreaking legislation passed after Kennedy's assassination.  Just as Kennedy sponsored the New Frontier, LBJ promoted the Great Society.  Kennedy also technically started the Vietnam War, since he ordered the assassination of Dihn Diem, which left the responsibility of managing South Vietnam in the hands of American occupational forces.  Actually, the Vietnam War can trace its origins all the way back to the Eisenhower administration, but it was still primarily a conflict that Johnson inherited from Kennedy, who still would have had to have fought it had he not been murdered.

Anyway, I see Nixon as primarily an early 70s President, not late 60s.  His administration was mostly focused on curbing American involvement in Vietnam by localizing the fight, as well as bombing Cambodia.  His mantra of law and order largely represented the backlash against 60s liberalism, which defined the 70s in general.  Nixon's second term, which began with the Paris Peace Accord (ending direct US military involvement in Vietnam) and soon progressed towards the oil embargo and Watergate scandal, was especially more representative of 70s cynicism and economic strife than 60s peace movements.